SPC 2608 Reflection - Bryanna Fernandez
Reflection On Class Presentations
Bryanna Fernandez
Throughout this series of class presentations, I had the opportunity to learn not only from my own work but also from the contributions of my classmates and the guidance of our two group leaders. Together, the presentations created a full introduction to public speaking: what it is, why it matters, and how we can become more confident speakers. Listening to everyone’s perspectives helped me understand public speaking in a deeper and more practical way. It wasn’t just theory- it was real experiences, real challenges, and real strategies that I can apply in my own life.
As each classmate presented, I noticed how different people approached the topic of public speaking. Some focused on the structure of a speech; others talked about delivery, and some shared personal stories about anxiety or confidence. Hearing these different angles helped me understand that public speaking isn’t one-size-fits-all. Everyone has their own strengths and challenges, and everyone improves their own way. This made me feel more comfortable with my own progress because I realized that growth looks different for everyone. For example, I had spoken about my personal issues that I had struggled with when it came to any form of speech.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was speech anxiety. Almost every presentation touched on it in some way, which showed me how common it really is. Before this, I thought speech anxiety was something only a few people struggled with, but now I see that it is normal. Many classmates talked about physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, or forgetting what they planned to say. Others mentioned mental symptoms like overthinking, fear of judgment, or worrying about making mistakes. Hearing these experiences made me feel less alone, and it helped me understand that anxiety does not mean you are a bad speaker- it just means you are human.
More importantly, I learned several strategies to overcome speech anxiety. One strategy that stood out to me was preparation. When you know your material well, you feel more confident and less nervous. Another strategy was practicing out loud, not just reading silently. Practicing helps you get used to hearing your own voice and improves your pacing. Some classmates talked about breathing techniques, grounding exercises, and positive self-talk. Others mentioned visualizing success instead of imagining everything that could go wrong. These strategies gave me practical tools I can use in future presentations, and they made me feel more capable of managing my nerves. I have really bad speech anxiety so those points will definitely remind me to maintain my cool.
Another major lesson I learned was about the structure of a speech. Several classmates explained how important it is to organize your ideas clearly. A good speech needs a strong introduction, a clear body with main points, and a memorable conclusion. Without structure, the audience gets lost. I realized that structure is not just for the audience - it also helps the speaker stay focused and calm. When you know exactly where you are going in your speech, you are less likely to panic or forget what comes next. This made me appreciate the planning stage of public speaking more than I did before.
Delivery was another topic that came up often. I learned that delivery includes your tone, pace, volume, eye contact, and body language. Some classmates talked about how speaking too fast can make you seem nervous, while speaking too slowly can make the audience lose interest. Others explained how eye contact helps build connection and trust. I also learned that gestures can help emphasize points, but they should be natural and not distracting. Watching my classmates present helped me see these delivery techniques in action. I noticed how confident speakers used pauses effectively, how they stood tall, and how they engaged the audience. It made me more aware of my own habits and what I can improve.
One of the most meaningful parts of the presentations was the summary given by our group leaders at the end. They tied everything together and highlighted the main themes we learned in class. Their summary helped me reflect on how much information we covered and how each presentation contributed something valuable. It also reminded me that public speaking is a skill that grows over time. No one becomes a perfect speaker overnight, but every presentation - even the ones that feel scary - helps you improve.
Overall, these presentations taught me that public speaking is not just about talking; it’s about connecting, preparing, and believing in yourself. I learned that anxiety is normal, but it can be managed with practice and confidence-building techniques. I learned that structure and delivery are essential for keeping the audience engaged. I learned that everyone has their own style, and that’s what makes public speaking interesting. Most importantly, I learned that growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone.
This experience helped me see public speaking in a new way. Instead of viewing it as something to fear, I now see it as an opportunity to express myself and share ideas. I feel more prepared for future presentations, and I’m grateful for everything I learned from my classmates and group leaders. Their insights, examples, and encouragement helped me understand that public speaking is a skill I can continue developing with confidence and practice. Speech Anxiety is something hard to overcome, and it is not that easy of a journey, at least not for me, but with practice I am sure I will do better and others will too.
Thank you!
Reflection On Class Presentations
Bryanna Fernandez
Throughout this series of class presentations, I had the opportunity to learn not only from my own work but also from the contributions of my classmates and the guidance of our two group leaders. Together, the presentations created a full introduction to public speaking: what it is, why it matters, and how we can become more confident speakers. Listening to everyone’s perspectives helped me understand public speaking in a deeper and more practical way. It wasn’t just theory- it was real experiences, real challenges, and real strategies that I can apply in my own life.
As each classmate presented, I noticed how different people approached the topic of public speaking. Some focused on the structure of a speech; others talked about delivery, and some shared personal stories about anxiety or confidence. Hearing these different angles helped me understand that public speaking isn’t one-size-fits-all. Everyone has their own strengths and challenges, and everyone improves their own way. This made me feel more comfortable with my own progress because I realized that growth looks different for everyone. For example, I had spoken about my personal issues that I had struggled with when it came to any form of speech.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was speech anxiety. Almost every presentation touched on it in some way, which showed me how common it really is. Before this, I thought speech anxiety was something only a few people struggled with, but now I see that it is normal. Many classmates talked about physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, or forgetting what they planned to say. Others mentioned mental symptoms like overthinking, fear of judgment, or worrying about making mistakes. Hearing these experiences made me feel less alone, and it helped me understand that anxiety does not mean you are a bad speaker- it just means you are human.
More importantly, I learned several strategies to overcome speech anxiety. One strategy that stood out to me was preparation. When you know your material well, you feel more confident and less nervous. Another strategy was practicing out loud, not just reading silently. Practicing helps you get used to hearing your own voice and improves your pacing. Some classmates talked about breathing techniques, grounding exercises, and positive self-talk. Others mentioned visualizing success instead of imagining everything that could go wrong. These strategies gave me practical tools I can use in future presentations, and they made me feel more capable of managing my nerves. I have really bad speech anxiety so those points will definitely remind me to maintain my cool.
Another major lesson I learned was about the structure of a speech. Several classmates explained how important it is to organize your ideas clearly. A good speech needs a strong introduction, a clear body with main points, and a memorable conclusion. Without structure, the audience gets lost. I realized that structure is not just for the audience - it also helps the speaker stay focused and calm. When you know exactly where you are going in your speech, you are less likely to panic or forget what comes next. This made me appreciate the planning stage of public speaking more than I did before.
Delivery was another topic that came up often. I learned that delivery includes your tone, pace, volume, eye contact, and body language. Some classmates talked about how speaking too fast can make you seem nervous, while speaking too slowly can make the audience lose interest. Others explained how eye contact helps build connection and trust. I also learned that gestures can help emphasize points, but they should be natural and not distracting. Watching my classmates present helped me see these delivery techniques in action. I noticed how confident speakers used pauses effectively, how they stood tall, and how they engaged the audience. It made me more aware of my own habits and what I can improve.
One of the most meaningful parts of the presentations was the summary given by our group leaders at the end. They tied everything together and highlighted the main themes we learned in class. Their summary helped me reflect on how much information we covered and how each presentation contributed something valuable. It also reminded me that public speaking is a skill that grows over time. No one becomes a perfect speaker overnight, but every presentation - even the ones that feel scary - helps you improve.
Overall, these presentations taught me that public speaking is not just about talking; it’s about connecting, preparing, and believing in yourself. I learned that anxiety is normal, but it can be managed with practice and confidence-building techniques. I learned that structure and delivery are essential for keeping the audience engaged. I learned that everyone has their own style, and that’s what makes public speaking interesting. Most importantly, I learned that growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone.
This experience helped me see public speaking in a new way. Instead of viewing it as something to fear, I now see it as an opportunity to express myself and share ideas. I feel more prepared for future presentations, and I’m grateful for everything I learned from my classmates and group leaders. Their insights, examples, and encouragement helped me understand that public speaking is a skill I can continue developing with confidence and practice. Speech Anxiety is something hard to overcome, and it is not that easy of a journey, at least not for me, but with practice I am sure I will do better and others will too.
Thank you!
Really nice reflection. Well...I agree public speaking is a way to express yourself.
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